self-interest

UK: /ˌsɛlfˈɪntrɛst/ US: (self′in′tər ist, -trist, self′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˌself-ˈin•ter•est,  n. 

[uncountable]
1. regard for one's own interest, esp. with disregard for others.
2. personal advantage:
   It's in his self-interest to study a lot because he needs to learn English.

self•in•ter•est•ed, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

self-in•ter•est  (self′in′tər ist, -trist, self′-), n. 

1. regard for one's own interest or advantage, esp. with disregard for others.
2. personal interest or advantage.

• 1640–50

self′-in′ter•est•ed, adj. 
self′-in′ter•est•ed•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

self-interest noun

1. one's personal interest or advantage
2. the act or an instance of pursuing one's own interest

ˌself-ˈinterested adjective